Means for regulating automatically sweeping fire in machine guns



April, 19, 1921-. ,775

'J. SCHELUTO ET AL MEANS FOR HEGULATING AUTOMATICALLY SWEEPING, FIRE IN momma GUNS Original Filed Aug. 20/1925 2 Sh f QSh g 1 A il 19, 1927. 1,625,775

J. SCHELUTQ :rm. MEANS Fonaseuuvnme AUTOMATICALLY SWEEPING FIRE IN MACHINE uns Original Fil ed Aug. 20. 1925 v z t -sheet z traverses of the gun,

Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN SCHELUTO AND FERNAND JULIEN JOSEPH-FURNEMONT, 0F BRUSSELS, BEL- GIUM; SAID SCHELUTO ASSIGNOR TO- GASTON EMILE COENE, OF UCCLE, NEAR BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

MEANS. FOR REGULATING AUTOMATICALLY SWEEPIN G FIRE IN MACHINE GUNS.

Application filed August 20, 1925, Serial No. 51,468, and in Belgium August 29, 1924. Renewed November This invention has for its object the provision of means for automatically regulating sweeping fire in machine guns which rangement of levers connected at one part to;

the axis of the operating lever and at another part to a ratchet Wheel 'the movement A of which controls the lateral-displacement of lIS-the gun by the intermediary ofgearing.

The useful length of one of the levers is variable in order to enable the angle of displacement of the ratchet wheel to bevar ed to regulate in this manner the successive The meshing gearing controlled by the ratchet wheel is adapted to the construction of the gun. In a Maxim gun, this ratchet wheel may be supported on a worm WhlCh en ages with a double toothed sector rotatab e on a platform supported by the gun, the said sector in turn engaging with a simple toothed sector fixed to the cradle of the g In the accompanying drawings one form of carrying the invention into effect is shown by way of example: A

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a Maxim machine gun with its carriage support and machine gun being indicated in broken lines.

On the pivot of the operating lever mounted on the axis of the cranked trunnions of the recoil mechanism is fixed a button A which receives a rod B which is carried at its other end by a lever C. i

According to the form shown 1n the drawings, the lever C is in the form of a V and pivoted at its angle to a support R fixed to the gun body. One of the branches of the lever is perforated in order that another rod D may be attached theretov of varying heights such rod D being in turn connected to a handle F, freely pivoted on the end of a worm N and carrying a pawl T which engages with a ratchet wheel Gr.

The connection of the rod D to the lever Fig. 2 is a plan of the arrangement, the

any of these devices may be adapted for coupling the'rod D to the lever C;

The worm turns between and is mounted in two supports E which are secured to the gun bodyfirst by a pivot K and also by an adjustable screw S which allows the worm N normally to engage with the rear end of a double toothed sector I. This double sector turns freely on a small platform H fixed to the gun body and whilst one of its'ends engages with the worm N, the other is in engagement with a fixed toothed sector J a which is fixed to the cradle M of the gun.

L represents the carriage, P the horizontal trunnions carrying the cradle and Q, the vertical trunnions supporting the barrel of the gun. A

The operation of the arrangement forming the subject of the invention is as follows The axis of the cranked trunnions of the recoil mechanism in the case of the Maxim gun for example accomplishes between two transverses of fire an alternate rectilinear movement. The pivot A mounted on this axis follows therefore the same movement,

The handle F connected to the point A by the levers B, C and D describes therefore an arc of a circle and according as the pawl T is turned in one direction or the other, the ratchet wheel G rotates in one direction or the other. i

The worm N being fast with the ratchet wheels G turns also in the one or the other direction, the worm N being maintained in place by the supports E and engaging with the double sector I which pivots on the plate H. This sector is compelled to become displaced in a given direction and to displace the axis of the gun since the double sector I is engaged by the sector J which is fixed to the cradle; the gun is thus compelled to follow the movements of the sector I as it is pivoted horizontally by the trunnions 'Q, turning in the cradle M which is itself fixed to the carriage L. The same result will be obtained. By omitting the double sector and in placing the sector J in direct engagement with the worm N.

For difierent distances, the angle of displacement must be different and is obtained by changing the position of the point of at tachment of the rod 1) to the lever C.

To tree the gun from the device it is necessary to loosen the screws S and to rock the members E thus bringing the worm N out of engagement with the sector.

The arrangement above described may be applied to all types of machine guns wherein there is gas operated recoil mechanism, it being necessary only to vary the method of attachment of the apparatus.

A mechanism allowing an alternativetd and-fro movement to the double sector I may be provided and further the invention is not limited to the details described as numerous modifications may be made in its details without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVe claim e 1. Means for regulating automatically sweeping fire in machine guns comprising recoil mechanism, gearing for traversing the gun, links connecting said recoil mechanism and traversing gear and means for adjusting the relative positions of said links, which traversing gear includes a ratchet wheel, a worm rotated by said ratchet wheel, a double toothed sector engaging said ratchet wheel and pivoted on the gun base, and a single toothed sector engaging said first named sector and fixed to the cradle of the gun. r

2. Means for regulating automatically sweeping fire in machine guns comprising recoil mechanism, a worm, means for rotating said worm from said recoil mechanism, a double toothed sector pivoted to the base of the gun and meshing at one end with said worm, a toothed sector fixed to the cradle of the gun and also meshing with said worm and means for varying the degree of rotation of said worm.

3. Means for regulating automatically sweeping fire in machine guns comprising recoil mechanism, a series of links extending therefrom, means for varying the effective length of one of said links, a ratchet whee1,means for rotating said ratchet wheel operated by said links, a worm rotatable with said ratchet wheel, a double sector having teeth at each end and meshing with said worm, a fixed pivot for said sector and a toothed sector meshing with said double sector and fixed tothe cradle of the gun.

JEAN SCHELUTO. FERNAND JULIEN JOSEPH FURNEMONT. 

